Weekly Pebble Report: Spring Training Begins

Colorado Rockies minor league report for Tuesday, February 25th, 2025

Spring training is finally in full swing for the Colorado Rockies, who now have five full games under their belts as they prepare for the 2025 season. The Rockies have a full 40-man roster, 23 non-roster invitees, and even a smattering of minor league prospects getting their cleats dirty in the desert.

With just five games played and over a month until the regular season starts, it’s still far too early to jump to conclusions or make predictions. However, we can at least enjoy the early showcases of our precious pebbles and see where we might be able to place our hopes for the upcoming season.

Chasing the Dream: Right-handed top prospect Chase Dollander made his spring training debut on Monday against the San Francisco Giants in a game that was criminally neither televised nor broadcast on the radio. Dollander struck out the first batter he faced—LaMonte Wade Jr—on three pitches to set the tone.

While he did give up a solo home run to Korean outfielder Jung-Hoo Lee, his outing wasn’t derailed. In two innings of work, Dollander struck out three batters without issuing a free pass, giving up two hits and one earned run. Hopefully his next outing will be televised as he works to supplant a veteran and make his way onto the Opening Day roster.

The Rockies have very kindly uploaded Dollander’s entire outing to their YouTube channel, should that tickle your fancy (it should!).

Zach in Action: Right-handed reliever Zach Agnos (no. 23 PuRP) may have finished the 2024 season in Double-A, but the former two-way player is auditioning for a spot on the big league roster and looking damn good while doing so. With long hair, a mustache, and a turtleneck, Agnos looks like he fell out of a bygone age of baseball, but carries a new-fangled twist: he built his arsenal based off his experiences as a hitter.

“Everything that I throw. I hated seeing as a hitter,” Agnos said last season. “I hated seeing a cutter. I hated seeing sweeping sweepers, big sliders, and I hated seeing a changeups. I could hit a fastball okay, but the changeup, the cutter, and the slider I hated.”

Agnos hasn’t quite flexed his strikeout potential so far this spring, but it’s early and he’s still impressed. He’s pitched two clean, hitless innings in his first two outings.

Benny Turns On His Jets Early: Athletic center fielder Benny Montgomery (no. 16 PuRP) played just 11 games in 2024 before requiring season-ending surgery. He’s arrived at camp looking healthy and more bulked up after a brief stint in the Puerto Rican winter league to shake off his rust.

We know Montgomery has the skills to go along with his athleticism, and he’s already showing well in camp. In two plate appearances he’s a perfect 1-for-1 with a bases clearing, three RBI double. He’s also drawn a walk.

Benny is unlikely to make the Opening Day roster—especially with how logjammed the Rockies are in the outfield—but he could find himself the starting center fielder in Triple-A Albuquerque if he continues to play well and most importantly stay healthy.

Mean Veen Machine: If there was any question whether Zac Veen would be healthy and truly vying for a big league roster spot this spring, consider that answered. Veen has struck out just once in 10 at-bats with two doubles, four RBI, three stolen bases, and a towering 440 foot home run. Said home run came with a contender for bat-flip of the year and the season hasn’t even started yet.

Veen has loudly been one of the most productive Rockies hitters early in camp and if he keeps it up the Rockies will be hard pressed to find a valid excuse to keep him from the Opening Day roster. If Jordan Beck, Nolan Jones, or both, fail to seize full control of a corner outfield spot this spring, the Rockies should reward it to Veen.

The Price is Wright: This one might just be for me, but the Rockies had their first 2024 draft pick enter a game this spring in the form of Clemson third baseman and fourth round selection Blake Wright.

Wright hit .270/.343/.460 with two home runs and six doubles over 16 games with the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies last season and was elevated from minor league camp over the weekend. He entered Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers as a defensive substitution at third base and made some solid defensive plays, showcasing his good hands and arm.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Wright got his first opportunity at the plate. Swinging at the first pitch he saw, Wright made contact and came up with an infield single for his troubles. Not a bad first impression for the 23-year-old!

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